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This area served as a mine depot until 1963 when it was demolished. Attempts to develop the site ran into public opposition and in 1992 it became a nature reserve under the care of the Wrabness Nature Reserve Charitable Trust. It is managed now by Essex Wildlife Trust.
It is mainly open grassland and scrub, with a pond, a bog, a wooded fringe and a bird hide overlooking the Stour estuary. It attracts open country birds such as yellowhammers (increasingly scarce elsewhere) and whitethroats to nest, and has large numbers of grassland butterflies and other insects in summer.
Visiting
Reached via Wheatsheaf Lane, which turns north off the B1352 (Ramsey–Manningtree) between Bradfield and Wrabness. A turning half-left just beyond the railway bridge leads to the car park.
About a mile walk from Wrabness rail station via a public footpath. A bus service from Colchester to Harwich runs along the B1352.
Accessible at all times.
May for birdsong; summer for wild flowers and butterflies.
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